Vargas defeats Longoria to claim Golden State Open title

Maria José Vargas defeated Paola Longoria, 15-8, 15-8, to win the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Golden State Open on Sunday. Vargas has won both of the LPRT events this season, and three straight overall going back to the final event of last season.

In the semi-finals, LPRT #1 Longoria defeated #4 Gabriela Martinez, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6, while Vargas, the LPRT’s #2 player, beat #3 Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-9.

Although the scores in the final weren’t that close, the games were hard fought, especially the first one, which lasted 58 rallies. Game two had 42 rallies.

Longoria got the first two points of the match, and Vargas the next five. But they were still at 5-2 after 21 rallies.

Vargas extended her lead to 11-3 and then 14-4. Longoria fought off the first game point, and then scored four straight points, including hitting two drive serve aces to the left side, making the score 14-8.

A Vargas backhand winner stopped that streak, but Longoria denied Vargas’s second game point. However, Vargas got the serve right back, and closed out the game with another backhand winner.

Vargas got the first three points of game two, and extended that lead to 8-2, and then 14-4. Again, Longoria fought off the first game point, and scored four of her own to cut the lead to 14-8.

But that was just delaying the seemingly inevitable, as Vargas got the serve back with a forehand winner, and then won it on the second game point with a backhand winner.

They played Mixed Doubles in Pleasanton, and 3rd seeds Martinez and Conrrado Moscoso upset top seeds Javier Mar and Mejia, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2. In the semi-finals, Martinez and Moscoso beat 10th seeds Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-8, while Mar and Mejia defeated 5th seeds Andree Parrilla and Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-10.

The next LPRT event is the Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado, November 6-9, and that will be followed by the Christmas Classic in Severna Park, Maryland, December 5-7. If you missed any of the Golden State Open action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 Golden State Open
Pleasanton, California - October 8-12

Final

2) Maria José Vargas d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-8, 15-8

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6
2) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-9

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-10
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-11

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Brenda Laime, 7-15, 15-11, 15-8
2) Maria José Vargas d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-10

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez, 15-2, 15-2
9) Valeria Centellas d. 8) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-8

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 9-15, 15-9, 11-4
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 13) Annie Sanchez, 15-4, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-4
6) Brenda Laime d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4

10) Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 9-15, 15-4, 11-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 18) Andrea Perez-Picon, 15-2, 15-0

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez d. 16) Alondra Yañez, 15-6, 15-11

9) Valeria Centellas - BYE
8) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 21) Cynthia Gutierrez, 15-13, 15-11

13) Annie Sanchez d. 20) Ivanna Balderrama, 15-12, 15-13
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Rhonda Rajsich d. 19) Estefania Perez Picon, 15-8, 15-3

11) Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

18) Andrea Perez-Picon d. 15) Erica Williams, 15-9, 15-4
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Final

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-10
3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-8

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Valeria Centellas & Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 15-10
5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-14, 11-6

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Diego Garcia & Maria Jose Vargas, 12-15, 15-11, 11-1
10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 2) Brenda Laime & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-7

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Vaishant Mangalampalli & Aanshi Thakur, 15-5, 15-7
8) Valeria Centellas & Jhonatan Flores d. 9) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez, 15-11, 15-8

5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Edwin Galicia & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 8-15, 15-13, 11-10
4) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Natalia Mendez d. 13) Alvaro Beltran & Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 13-15, 11-0

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 14) Ivanna Balderrama & Cole Sendrey, 15-6, 15-2
6) Diego Garcia & Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Cristina Amaya & Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-3, 15-7

10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 7) Thomas Carter & Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 15-9
2) Brenda Laime & Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Wayne Antone & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-5, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Moscoso defeats Montoya to win 2025 Golden State Open

Conrrado Moscoso defeated Rodrigo Montoya, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5, on Sunday to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, in what was a battle of two former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions. The win is Moscoso’s first since last year’s Golden State Open, and his 3rd consecutive Golden State Open title.

Montoya was playing his first final since the 2024 Lewis Drug Pro-Am, which he lost to Samuel Murray.

Moscoso almost won in two straight games, as he had leads of 11-7 and 13-10 in game one, only to see Montoya come back and take it, 15-13, on his first game point opportunity.

Montoya got that opportunity, as he appealed Moscoso backhand cross court shot that the referee had called good. However, the line judges overturned the referee’s call, and as Montoya had served that rally, he was awarded a point, which made it 14-13.

Game two was similar in that Moscoso was again ahead 11-7, but this time there was no come back by Montoya, as Moscoso got the next four points only giving up serve once. A soft backhand shot ended it at 15-7, setting up a tie-breaker.

Montoya had an early lead in game three at 2-1, but Moscoso responded with four straight points, including a drive serve ace to the left side. He maintained that lead, and Montoya didn’t get closer than two points, as Moscoso won it 11-5.

The final point was a classic three shot rally, as Moscoso drove serve to the left side, which Montoya returned with a backhand cross court shot. That shot was loose, and Moscoso capitalized on that by hitting a winning forehand pinch shot.

You might think of Moscoso as a bigger drive server than Montoya, but Montoya actually had one more drive serve ace than Moscoso during the match. He had three aces in game one to Moscoso’s two, and they each had one ace in both games two and three.

Neither semi-final match was close, as Moscoso beat Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-0, and Montoya defeated Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-2.

However, all four quarterfinal matches required tie-breakers. Moscoso defeated surprise quarterfinalist 15th seed Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 10-15, 11-6, and Montoya, who was the top seed, came back from a game down to defeat 9th seed Jaime Martell, 11-15, 15-6, 11-6.

The other two quarters were even closer, as 4th seed Parrilla defeated 5th seed Adam Manilla, 15-10, 14-15, 11-9, and 6th seed Alonso held on to beat 14th seed Kadim Carrasco, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8.

Flores and Carrasco benefited from injury forfeit wins in the Round of 16. Flores won the first game against 2nd seed Javier Mar, 15-10, and then Mar forfeits at 1-1 in the second game. Third seed Alan Natera forfeited his match versus Carrasco.

The next main IRT event is the Rally For Our Warriors event in Marlborough, Massachusetts, November 13-16. If you missed any of the action from Pleasanton, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

2025 Golden State Open
Pleasanton, California - October 8-12

Final

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5

Semi-finals

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-2
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-0

Quarterfinals

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Jaime Martell, 11-15, 15-6, 11-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. 5) Adam Manilla, 15-10, 14-15, 11-9

6) Jordy Alonso d. 14) Kadim Carrasco, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 15) Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 10-15, 11-6

Round of 16

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Cole Sendry, 15-5, 15-3
9) Jaime Martell d. 8) Thomas Carter, 15-7, 15-3

5) Adam Manilla d. 12) Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-8
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Diego Garcia, 6-15, 15-3, 11-9

14) Kadim Carrasco d. 3) Alan Natera, injury forfeit
6) Jordy Alonso d. 11) Diego Gastelum, 15-6, 15-14

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-0, 15-2
15) Jhonatan Flores d. 2) Javier Mar, 15-10, 1-1, injury forfeit

Round of 32

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 32) Alvaro Guillen, 15-7, 15-3
16) Cole Sendry d. 17) John Wolfe, 15-5, 15-5

9) Jaime Martell d. 24) Jose Caceres, 15-12, 15-4
8) Thomas Carter d. 25) Santiago Castillo, 15-10, 15-5

5) Adam Manilla d. 28) Emir Martinez, 15-1, 15-7
12) Robert Collins d. 21) Wayne Antone, 1-15, 15-10, 11-0

13) Diego Garcia d. 20) Juan Salvatierra, 15-4, 15-5
4) Andree Parrilla d. 29) Ezequiel Subieta, 15-2, 15-6

3) Alan Natera d. 30) Santiago Galina, 15-3, 15-12
14) Kadim Carrasco d. 19) DJ Mendoza, 14-15, 15-2, 11-8

11) Diego Gastelum d. 22) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-5, 15-7
6) Jordy Alonso d. 27) Matias Arnez, 15-5, 15-3

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 26) Anthony Martin, 15-1, 15-6
10) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 23) Cody Elkins, 15-5, 15-0

15) Jhonatan Flores d. 18) Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-1
2) Javier Mar d. 34) Salim Gonzalez, 15-14, 15-11

Round of 64

1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
32) Alvaro Guillen d. 33) Ernesto Ruiz, 15-12, 1-15, 11-7

17) John Wolfe - BYE
16) Cole Sendry - BYE

9) Jaime Martell - BYE
24) Jose Caceres - BYE

25) Santiago Castillo - BYE
8) Thomas Carter - BYE

5) Adam Manilla - BYE
28) Emir Martinez d. 37) Mauro Rojas, 15-5, 14-15, 11-5

21) Wayne Antone - BYE
12) Robert Collins - BYE

13) Diego Garcia - BYE
20) Juan Salvatierra - BYE

29) Ezequiel Subieta d. 36) Homer Steadman-Shockley, 15-6, 15-5
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Alan Natera - BYE
30) Santiago Galina d. 35) Luis Castelltort, 15-12, 15-4

19) DJ Mendoza - BYE
14) Kadim Carrasco - BYE

11) Diego Gastelum - BYE
22) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman

27) Matias Arnez d. 38) Deacon Qualls, 15-2, 15-5
6) Jordy Alonso - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
26) Anthony Martin - BYE

23) Cody Elkins - BYE
10) Gerson Miranda Martinez - BYE

15) Jhonatan Flores - BYE
18) Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-1

31) Santiago Borja d. 34) Salim Gonzalez, 15-0, 15-1
2) Javier Mar - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins #131

We’re late with this, but Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), got back in the Winner’s Circle late last month, when he won the Track Town Open in Eugene, Oregon by defeating IRT #3 Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 11-15, 15-2, 11-2. It’s the 131st IRT win of Waselenchuk’s long career.

To put that total in a bit of perspective, Waselenchuk now has as many wins as Cliff Swain (71) and Marty Hogan (40) combined, and those players have the 2nd and 3rd most IRT titles. He’s got more than #5 through #10 on the all time list: Jack Huczek (29), Rocky Carson (27), Jason Mannino (22), Mike Yellen (18), Andy Roberts (17) and Bret Harnett (16).

It’s an astonishing total.

Waselenchuk got to the final by beating Conrrado Moscoso, 15-4, 15-3, in the semi-finals, and Adam Manilla in the quarterfinals, 15-12, 15-6.

For his part, Bredenbeck defeated Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-13, in the semis, and Javier Mar, 15-10, 15-9, in the quarters. Natera had the big upset of the tournament, as he took out IRT #2 Andrés Acuña, 9-15, 15-14, 11-4, in the quarters.

Acuña had been looking to win a second consecutive title, as he won his first ever IRT title earlier in September, when he defeated Waselenchuk in Colorado.

The next IRT event is the Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, which began Wednesday. We’ll try to cover that in a more timely manner. As always, you can watch the action on line via the IRT YouTube channel.

2025 Track Town Open
Eugene, Oregon - September 25-28

Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 11-15, 15-2, 11-2

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 13) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-4, 15-3
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-13

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-6
13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Rodrigo Montoya, 8-15, 15-14, 11-4

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 6) Javier Mar, 15-10, 15-9
7) Alan Natera d. 2) Andrés Acuña, 9-15, 15-14, 11-4

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Kadim Carrasco, 15-7, 15-3
8) Adam Manilla d. 9) Jordy Alonso, 15-2, 15-6

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 12) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-12
13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 15-10

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-6
6) Javier Mar d. 11) Jaime Martell, 15-4, 15-4

7) Alan Natera d. 10) Thomas Carter, 15-1, 15-7
2) Andrés Acuña d. 15) Carlos Ramirez, 15-3, 15-3

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
16) Kadim Carrasco d. 17) John Wolfe, 15-8, 15-7

9) Jordy Alonso d. 24) Sean Brooks, 15-3, 15-0
8) Adam Manilla - BYE

5) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
12) Diego Gastelum d. 21) Sunji Spencer, 15-8, 15-3

13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 20) Charles Pratt, 15-4, 15-2
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
14) Robert Collins d. 19) Wayne Antone, 15-12, 15-5

11) Jaime Martell d. 22) Travis Haines, 15-1, 15-2
6) Javier Mar - BYE

7) Alan Natera - BYE
10) Thomas Carter d. 23) Tony Teach, 15-0, 15-3

15) Carlos Ramirez d. 18) Jim Douglas, 15-3 [sic]
2) Andrés Acuña - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….